Who Invented Crosswords? The Legacy of Arthur Wynne and the Rise of a Global Obsession

For many of us, the morning routine is incomplete without a cup of coffee and the rhythmic scratching of a pencil against newsprint—or, increasingly, the satisfying "tap-tap" of a smartphone screen. But have you ever paused mid-clue to wonder who invented crosswords? While word games have existed in various forms for centuries, the specific grid-based challenge we know today has a definitive origin story that began just over a century ago in a bustling New York newsroom.

The journey from a simple "Word-Cross" to the complex, culturally rich puzzles of the 21st century is a tale of accidental branding, editorial snobbery, and a surprising wartime reversal. As a retro gaming historian, I find the evolution of the crossword to be one of the most successful "user experience" upgrades in the history of media.

The Architect of the Grid: Arthur Wynne

When exploring the crossword origin, all roads lead to Arthur Wynne. Born in Liverpool, England, Wynne immigrated to the United States and found himself working as a journalist for the New York World. In late 1913, he was tasked with creating a new feature for the "Fun" section of the Sunday edition.

Drawing inspiration from "word squares"—a type of ancient puzzle found in children’s books and even ancient Roman ruins—Wynne decided to create something more expansive. On December 21, 1913, he published what he called a "Word-Cross."

The First "Word-Cross"

Wynne’s original creation looked quite different from the square grids we see today. It was diamond-shaped and contained no black squares. To give players a head start, he pre-filled the word "FUN" across the top. Despite its rudimentary appearance, it contained the DNA of the modern game: numbered clues, an interlocking grid, and the satisfaction of "solving" a hidden structure.

The 1920s: A Publishing Phenomenon

If Arthur Wynne was the father of the crossword, then the publishing house Simon & Schuster was its rocket fuel. In 1924, Dick Simon and Lincoln Schuster were looking for a way to put their new publishing firm on the map. They decided to release the world’s first book of crossword puzzles.

It was a massive gamble. At the time, crosswords were seen as a fleeting fad. To make the book more appealing, they attached a pencil to every copy—a brilliant marketing move that signaled the book was meant to be interacted with, not just read.

The Result of the Boom

The book was an overnight sensation, selling over 100,000 copies in its first year. This success didn't just launch a genre; it effectively launched Simon & Schuster as a major player in the publishing world. Suddenly, crosswords were everywhere: on clothing, in jewelry designs, and even referenced in Broadway shows.

The New York Times: From Skeptic to Gold Standard

One of the most ironic chapters in the history of who invented crosswords is the role of The New York Times. Today, the NYT Crossword is considered the "gold standard" of the medium, but for nearly 30 years, the paper refused to publish them.

In 1924, the NYT editorial board published a scathing critique, calling crosswords a "sinful waste of time" and a "primitive form of mental exercise." They took pride in being the only major metropolitan daily without a puzzle.

The WWII Turning Point

Everything changed after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The editors realized that readers needed a distraction from the grim news of World War II. In February 1942, the paper finally relented, hiring Margaret Farrar as the first crossword editor.

Farrar is credited with establishing the professional standards we still use today, such as the "Sunday Breakfast Test"—the idea that a puzzle should not contain words or themes that would be unappetizing or offensive to someone eating their breakfast.

The Modern Cruciverbalist: Will Shortz and Beyond

The term "cruciverbalist" (from the Latin for "cross" and "word") was coined in the 1970s to describe those who create or solve these puzzles. No one embodies this more than Will Shortz.

Shortz has been the editor of the New York Times crossword since 1993. He is uniquely qualified, holding the world’s only degree in Enigmatology (the study of puzzles), which he designed himself at Indiana University. Under his leadership, the crossword has transitioned from a traditional trivia test into a vibrant, wordplay-heavy cultural touchstone.

The Rise of the "Mini"

In 2025, the landscape of crosswords is shifting again. While the full-sized daily remains popular, the "NYT Mini Crossword" has seen a meteoric rise. This bite-sized 5x5 grid has become a daily ritual for Gen Z and Alpha, proving that the format Arthur Wynne created 112 years ago is infinitely adaptable to shorter attention spans.

3 Real-World Examples of Crossword Evolution

1. The Themed Puzzle: Unlike Wynne's original random word list, modern "Sunday" puzzles usually feature a "theme"—a hidden connection between the longest answers in the grid.
2. The Cryptic Crossword: Popular in the UK, these puzzles use clues that are themselves mini-puzzles, involving anagrams, hidden words, and double meanings. For more on this, read about Newspaper Puzzles History.
3. Digital Streaks: In 2025, the "streak" has become a gamified element of solving. Apps now track how many consecutive days you have completed a puzzle, turning a solo activity into a competitive social experience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming Sunday is the Hardest: This is the most common misconception. In terms of clue difficulty, the Saturday puzzle is actually the most grueling. Sunday is just larger (21x21 vs 15x15) and usually roughly the difficulty of a Wednesday or Thursday.
• Ignoring the Tense: A clue and its answer must always match. If the clue is "Jumped," the answer must be in the past tense (e.g., LEAPT). If the clue is plural, the answer is plural.
• Refusing to "Google": While purists might disagree, using external resources is a great way to learn. It’s better to finish the puzzle and learn a new fact than to leave it half-done.
• Overlooking the "Filler": Experienced solvers always start with the short, 3-letter words. These "crosswordese" words (like OREO, ALOE, or ERNE) provide the scaffolding for the longer, more difficult entries.

The Future: AI and Diversity in Construction

As we look toward 2026, the crossword community is at a crossroads. The introduction of puzzle-building AI agents by companies like Amuse Labs has sparked a heated debate. While AI can build a perfect grid, it often lacks the "human touch"—the witty puns, cultural nuances, and "aha!" moments that a human constructor provides.

Furthermore, there is a major push for diversity. For decades, crosswords were criticized for relying on "Old White Man" trivia (think: 1940s opera stars). Modern fellowships are now bringing in younger, more diverse constructors who reference contemporary music, global cuisine, and modern technology.

Conclusion

From a simple diamond in a 1913 newspaper to a digital staple for millions, the crossword has survived and thrived. Understanding who invented crosswords gives us appreciation for the simple brilliance of Arthur Wynne’s vision. Whether you are a casual solver of the Mini or a dedicated Saturday veteran, you are participating in a century-old tradition of human ingenuity and linguistic play.

For those interested in how other classic games evolved, you might enjoy reading about the Puzzle History Overview or discovering Famous Puzzle Designers who followed in Wynne's footsteps.